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If you are a new entrant in the job market, you need to
perfect your resume before applying for your 1st job
Since you are fresh out of college, use your education
as your strong point. Aggregate %, CGPA, accolades, club
participation, etc. will be your focus.
"Do I really need a resume? What should I write in my
resume?"
These are questions which worry every college graduate
looking for his/her first job. Welcome to the real
world! Yes you really need to make your resume and how
you present yourself in that resume will go a long way
towards getting you your first job.
It's a myth that resumes of entry-level graduates are
unimportant because they lack the 'pull' of experience.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is a
well-made resume important for every job seeker, it is
more critical for entry level graduates. A resume is a
mirror of your professional identity. A well-defined
resume impresses a recruiter. A sloppy resume
immediately proclaims the candidate to be sloppy.
Here are some do's and don'ts on what makes a great
resume for graduates seeking entry-level positions in
industry.
OBJECTIVE
One of the most frequently heard complaints made by
recruiters about entry-level resumes is that they lack a
specific objective. Resumes of fresh graduates have
fuzzy, general objectives or no objective at all.
Mentioning a specific objective is by far the most
important feature of an entry- level resume. Without
goal clarity you are bound to drown in the sea of
mediocrity.
The only thing worse than the absence of an objective is
a vague objective. Something like "My objective is to
work with a dynamic company which will fully utilise my
talents…" is a complete no-no! This objective is
worthless because it gives the potential employer no
idea about your goals or your direction.
Your objective should be clear, well-defined and
short-not more than 10-12 words.. It should be aimed
towards getting a particular position in a specific
industry. Thus your objective should talk about the
following:
1. Position wanted
2. Functional area
3. Industry wanted
Examples of good objectives:
Example 1: "Junior management position wanted in
PROGRAMMING/ engineering field in IT industry.'
Example 2: GET in position in the manufacturing field.
Example 3: Entry level programmer in a software
development company.
Example 4: Marketing position in the FMCG segment of a
Multinational Company.
Example 5: Multimedia software development position.
Open to Relocation.
Example 6: "A position as a Production supervisor with a
petro-chemical company."
SUMMARY
Summary is the second most important factor that is
conspicuous by its absence in resumes of entry-level
graduates. It is a good idea to include a summary of
your resume after having mentioned your objective. This
sums up your resume in a nutshell and gives you an
opportunity to highlight your strengths. It invites the
recruiter to read your detailed resume. The summary
should consist of 4-5 specific points-either bulleted or
in one paragraph.
Sample Summary 1:
* B.E (Computer Science) from IIT-Delhi, in 2000.
* Course in Computers Database programmes Oracle 8I &
VB6 from PENTASOFT in 2005.
* Consistently good academic record.
* Good analytical and communication skills.
* Have worked on a curriculum project "XXX XXXXX XXXX"
Sample Summary 2:
"Masters in Computer Application with specialisation in
J2EE/Web Technologies. Great operational, communication
and computer skills. Good academic record throughout.
Among the top three students out of a batch of 120
students. Undergone Industrial training in a top
petrochemical Company.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Most fresher resume doesn't suffer from space constraint
. However it is a good idea to include only those
educational and professionals qualifications which are
relevant. Put your qualifications in a reverse
chronological order. i.e. the recent ones first followed
by earlier ones. Entry level resume should also mention
the names of their school and college, years in which
they passed their board examinations. However, include
your marks only you have shown a good academic
performance.
WORK EXPERIENCE
An entry- level resume cannot compete with resumes of
experienced workers in the area of work experience. But
don't forget to list internships, voluntary work and
summer training that you have undertaken. How you
present these is very important. Make sure you clearly
define your duty and responsibilities during this
training.
E.g.: "Worked as a summer trainee in India's largest Oil
Refinery. I was working for the system control
department. Wrote quality reports as well as ISO
features for the company." Any projects done for your
school or your college should also be mentioned.
DESIGN
Follow a simple design, which gives maximum information
in the minimum number of pages. Use an easy to read and
commonly used font like 'Times New Roman' or 'Verdana.'
Limit your font size to 10-11. Do not underline heavily.
WORD USAGE
Simple language, lucid expression with good grammar is
the thumb rule. Watch your tenses carefully. Use short
and simple sentences. And never-ever make the mistake of
using long words just to impress the recruiter. Flowery
words are for speeches, keep them away from your resume.
OUCH! THE TRUTH HURTS
There are many things we would rather not write in our
resumes. And while writing a resume the strong
temptation to stretch the truth (or simply lie through
our teeth) can be quite overpowering. But just stomp on
the temptation. Most companies opt for a reference check
during recruitment. Your resume is considered a legal
document and fudging up small details may cause you
great embarrassment in your career.
All right! so you've made yor resume. But this is not
the time to sit back and relax. There are some important
post-resume do's left.
CHECK, AND RE-CHECK!
The most important post resume step: Read and re-read
your resume for any mistakes. Check the facts, the
grammar, the spellings. After you have checked it, get
you parents, friends, teachers to check it for you. One
small mistake may cost you your job.
And finally...mom is right you know! Do not
procrastinate over anything, specially making your
resume. Most fresh graduates prefer to leave the
unappealing task of resume making till the last minute
i.e the day before their first interview. However,
remember that making great resumes take time and effort.
And the rewards will last you a lifetime
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